Final answer:
The sword and encircling serpent symbolize various concepts such as supernatural powers, salvationist intent, and healing, depending on the cultural and historical context. It has been associated with everything from spiritual practices to cosmic evil, fertility, and royal omnipotence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sword and encircling serpent is a complex symbol that has represented various concepts across cultures and time periods. In some contexts, such as the native peoples of the Middle Ohio Valley, the serpent has been associated with supernatural powers and included in spiritual practices. Depictions like St. George slaying the serpent-dragon are symbolic of defeating cosmic evil, justifying violence due to its sacred character and salvationist intent. Moreover, the Rod of Asclepius features a serpent as a symbol of healing and medicine, an enduring symbol in the medical field.
In various mythologies and religious iconography, serpents also represent temptation, as depicted by the image of St. Simeon, or evil and misfortune, as suggested by the story of the head of Medusa and the star Algol. Conversely, in the art and relics of ancient cultures such as the Minoans, serpents were associated with fertility, nature, and high social status, especially when connected to female deities. In other artistic expressions, serpents wrapped around figures or flowing from them may indicate the presence of other-worldly qualities or an appeal to sympathetic forces, as seen in the representation of a woman pleading before a ruler.
The symbol also appears in other cultures, such as the association of dragons with the emperor's omnipotence in Chinese iconography. In contrast, Minoan civilization revered the labrys or double ax, which is sometimes associated with labyrinths and has connections to myths like the Minotaur and goddess worship involving serpents. These instances illustrate the diversity of meanings attributed to the imagery of serpents or serpent-like creatures throughout history.